THE route to the Champions League final for Premier League giants Arsenal and Manchester City has been revealed.

Mikel Arteta’s side will take on German champions Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals, while Pep Guardiola’s Treble winners will take on European kings Real Madrid.

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Arsenal will be hoping that this year is the year they win their first ever European Cup in the club’s long history.

Man City are looking to become the team that can claim back-to-back Champions League victories since Real Madrid’s stunning dominance between 2015 and 2018.

But what must the two English giants do to reach the final rounds of this year’s Champions League?

What is Arsenal and Man City’s route to the Champions League final?

The first leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich will take place on April 9 or 10 at the Emirates.

The second leg at the Allianz Arena is scheduled for April 16 or 17.

Meanwhile, Man City will travel to Real Madrid in the first leg before hosting the 14-time Champions League winner at the Etihad.

If Arsenal and Man City win their respective quarter-finals, the two Premier League titans will face each other in the semi-finals.

The Champions League semi-finals will be held on April 30 and May 1, with the second legs on May 7 and 8.

One of Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, PSG or Barcelona will be the potential opponent for the two English giants in the final, should either side reach the final stages.

The Champions League final will take place on Saturday, June 1 at Wembley Stadium.

Full Champions League draw

Quarter-finals (9/10 April and 16/17 April)

Arsenal vs Bayern Munich

Atletico Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund

Real Madrid vs Manchester City

Semi-finals (April 30/May 1 and May 7/8)

Arsenal/Bayern vs Real Madrid/Manchester City

Atletico/Dortmund vs PSG/Barcelona

Final (June 1)

Arsenal/Bayern/Real Madrid/Manchester City vs Atletico/Dortmund/PSG/Barcelona

A family favorite pizza chain is expected to open 700 new locations, including 70 before the end of the year as part of major expansion plans.

Domino’s, which currently operates 1,300 branches in Britain and Ireland, has set its sights on running 2,000 stores by 2033.

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The pizza restaurant said it expects to open 70 new branches by 2024, although it hasn’t said where they will be, so you’ll have to keep your eyes peeled.

The move to operating 2,000 stores in less than a decade could see the chain rival McDonald’s, which currently operates fewer than 1,400 restaurants in the UK and Ireland.

This obviously doesn’t take into account the number of stores McDonald’s could have by 2033.

Domino’s today announced its expansion plans in its 2023 annual results, with the brand’s sales totaling £1.57 billion.

The pizza chain said it aimed to generate a total turnover of £2.5 billion by 2033, after opening 61 new stores in 2023.

Commenting on today’s results, Andrew Rennie, CEO said: “Last year we continued to make strong strategic progress with 61 new store openings, as we expanded our
customers compelling value.

“These efforts have resulted in increased revenue and shareholder returns, with continued robust earnings growth.”

He added: “In December I set out a framework for accelerating long-term sustainable growth.

“After a great year for store openings in 2023, we are accelerating our growth and expect to have 1,600 stores in Britain and Ireland delivering £2.0 billion in system sales by 2028, and 2,000 stores by 2033.”

Mr Rennie also said Domino’s had plans to launch a £4 meal deal and a customer loyalty scheme.

He said the lunch offering will be launched in the “next few weeks”, while the loyalty program will be unveiled later this year.

The CEO said: “It’s not so much about the competition, but we know we are under-penetrated in some areas.

“In other countries Domino’s does 20 to 25% of its sales at lunchtime, but here it’s only around 15%. That’s why we’re launching a £4 lunch deal and cheeky pizzas and wraps, because we know people want a lighter option. .”

Domino’s planned store expansion comes at a time when other pizza chains are struggling on the high street.

Papa John’s, which currently operates more than 520 locations in the UK, plans to close 50 “underperforming” restaurants.

Earlier this month, Papa John’s said it would “undertake a comprehensive review of our UK restaurants to assess viability.”

A spokesperson told The Sun that the “strategic” closure of failing branches would give the company the opportunity to invest in branches that are doing well.

Pizza Hut has also languished on the high street, with the owner of its UK stores Heart locked in negotiations with Smart Group to refinance millions of pounds of debt with lenders in August last year.

At the time, accountants warned Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) that the company’s dining franchise arm faced “material uncertainty that could cast significant doubt on its… ability to continue as a going concern”.

In the year to December 2022, Pizza Hut’s revenues rose from £130 million to £161 million, but the additional costs pushed its pre-tax loss to £3.6 million.

The chain is also in the process of paying back £73 million of debt, of which £31 million is due by April 2024.

It comes after the chain announced in 2020 that it would close 29 branches after being rescued from bankruptcy.

In other news, Domino’s launched a pasta-inspired lasagna and carbonara pizza in February.

But the change left some pizza lovers confused, with one saying: “Clearly Domino’s has declared war on Italy.”

The pizza chain also launched Cadbury Creme Egg-themed cookies nationwide last month.

But if you want to get your hands on one, you’ll have to be quick: they’re only on sale until April 8.

Do you have a money problem that needs to be solved? Get in touch by emailing money@the-sun.co.uk.

Moreover, you can join us Sun Money chats and tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories.

Mohammed Shami was India’s best bowler at home during last year’s ODI World Cup with 24 wickets from just seven matches.

New Delhi: According to sources, the Bhartiya Janata Party has proposed Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami to stand as a candidate for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Bengal. The India pacer, who made headlines with his stunning performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup at home, plays for Bengal in domestic cricket but hails from Amroha in Uttar Pradesh. However, due to injury, he has not played any form of cricket since the ODI World Cup.

According to an India Today TV report, the BJP leadership has already sent a proposal to Shami and the discussions have been positive. It is also clear that fielding Sham in the minority-dominated constituencies in Bengal could increase the possibility of the BJP winning from there.

The BJP’s primary focus would be to field Shami from the Basirhat Lok Sabha constituency, the latest hotbed for newsmakers after the Sandeshkhali violence.

WE’RE giving away another £500 Amazon gift voucher with Score Predictor in Matchweek 30.

Submit your predictions for the outcomes of five selected Premier League matches for a chance to win the fantastic prize by Monday evening.

Please note that you do not need to get all five predictions exactly correct to win the voucher. You just need to earn more points (based on accuracy) than anyone else.

Score Predictor remains free to play and if you choose pure instinct, it will take just a few seconds to enter your predictions.

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PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR FOR THIS WEEKEND’S PREMIER LEAGUE PROMOTION – SOMEONE SHOULD WIN A £500 AMAZON GIFT CARD!

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Check out our predictions below…

Crystal Palace v Luton

The Hatters have lost five games in a row, but that doesn’t tell the whole story.

Rob Edwards’ side have faced Liverpool, Manchester City and Aston Villa, three of the current top four in the Premier League, in their most recent outings.

Carlton Morris and company should find it easier on Saturday against a bottom-half opponent: the 28-year-old striker has scored five goals and provided two assists in his last seven league games.

The Eagles succumbed to Tottenham last time out but were boosted by the return of Eberechi Eze, who is likely to be fit enough to play 90 minutes if required this weekend.

It’s early days for Oliver Glasner, making Palace difficult to predict, but 39% of Score Predictor users have gone for a 2-1 home win at this stage – the most popular prediction.

Luton have only collected nine points on the road this season, but we are backing them to take something away from Selhurst Park.

Our prediction: 2-2 draw

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Arsenal vs Brentford

The Gunners have won six league games in a row, scoring 26 goals and conceding just three.

Mikel Arteta’s side have been in blistering form of late and it’s hard to think of anything other than another comfortable win this weekend.

Brentford have taken just one point from their last four games, albeit against strong opposition.

Arsenal conceded the fewest league goals in the 2023/2024 season and they recently surpassed Liverpool to become the top scorers as well – ominous signs.

The Bees famously defeated Arsenal in their first Premier League match, but the North Londoners have generally recorded narrow wins in this match since.

Considering only the bottom three have conceded more goals than Thomas Frank’s side, the free-flowing hosts should have more than enough to get the job done.

Our prediction: 3-0 for Arsenal

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Aston Villa vs Tottenham

This has all the ingredients of a thriller.

Ange Postecoglou’s approach often results in goals at both ends, while the Villains always back themselves to assert their dominance on home soil.

The home side are fourth in the table with Spurs five points behind in fifth place with a game in hand. Their records are very similar.

Villa have had the better of this fixture of late and will look to make it four straight wins over the north London outfit on Sunday.

However, the visitors will be fresher when Unai Emery’s team faces Ajax in Amsterdam tonight.

In this case, we tend to sit on the fence…

Our prediction: 2-2 draw

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Liverpool vs Manchester City

A gigantic duel in the title race.

The Reds are one of only three sides in England’s top four who are yet to suffer defeat at home, but their immense record will be tested to the limit by Pep Guardiola’s formidable machine.

City have generally come loose at Anfield in recent years, although they did win 4-1 against Merseyside last season.

This time, it doesn’t feel like either defense is equipped to counter the quality of the opponent’s attacking unit, especially if Mohamed Salah is deemed available.

The defending champions rested a number of key players against Copenhagen in midweek and they will have an extra day to prepare for this crucial match with Liverpool away to Sparta Prague tonight.

It will be interesting to see which line-up Jurgen Klopp goes with in the first leg of the Europa League round of 16.

The hosts have more injury concerns and it is suspected that the absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold could be a factor; the England international scored an excellent equalizer at the Etihad in November.

Our prediction: 3-2 for Manchester City

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Chelsea vs Newcastle

The Blues’ 4-1 defeat at St James’ Park in November was perhaps their worst performance of the season, but many Score Predictor users will have given up looking for patterns for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

Chelsea are frustratingly inconsistent as their league position (11th) is exposed.

They were also not good on their own field this season; they won just five of their twelve league matches at Stamford Bridge.

Mind you, the Magpies haven’t had much success on the road; they have collected just 11 points away from home.

Games involving Newcastle this season have seen an average of 3.8 goals scored, but their lean-away record combined with Chelsea’s disappointing home record suggests something of a tepid stalemate.

Our prediction: 1-1 draw

Submit your predictions before this weekend’s action starts!

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PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR FOR THIS WEEKEND’S PREMIER LEAGUE PROMOTION – SOMEONE SHOULD WIN A £500 AMAZON GIFT CARD!

VIRGIN MONEY has agreed to be acquired by Nationwide Building Society in a £2.9 billion deal, the companies have announced.

Nationwide said the merger would enable the company to offer a broader range of products and services to members and increase their financial strength.

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Details have not yet been finalized, but the deal would allow the two brands to operate as separate entities, with the Virgin Money brand remaining on the market for six years.

Nationwide was offered an all-cash offer of 220 cents per Virgin Money share last Wednesday, representing a 30% premium to Virgin Money’s share price.

Both parties confirmed that the deal was mutual and will be financed from existing cash resources.

This should enable them to offer a wide range of products and services to its existing members.

Nationwide said it does not intend to make any material changes to the size of Virgin Money’s 7,300-strong workforce in the short term.

Combined, the group would have total assets of £366 billion and become the second largest mortgage savings group in Britain by market share.

Nationwide CEO Debbie Crosbie said: “Importantly, Nationwide will remain a building society, and a combined group would bring the benefits of fairer banking and cross-ownership to more people in Britain, including our ongoing commitment to retain existing branches, as part of our ‘Branch Promise’ and industry-leading levels of customer service.

“We believe the combination would create a stronger and more diverse company that will be better positioned to deliver value to our members and customers, both now and in the future.”

Last month we saw a similar deal struck between Barclays and Tesco Bank.

Tesco Bank, which has more than five million customers, was sold to Barclays in an agreed deal that would include the takeover of almost 3,000 staff.

Zara Tindall looked ready for action as she took part in a training event at the Rectory Farm Arena yesterday.

The 42-year-old daughter of the Princess Royal, known for her equestrian prowess, rode two of her horses – the dark brown 'Showtime' and the gray-coated 'Classicals Euro Star' – in what appeared to be gloomy, overcast weather in Gloucestershire.

She dressed in a navy blue waterproof jacket and wore white riding breeches, riding boots and a helmet.

The royal – who won silver in a team event for Great Britain at the 2012 London Olympics – appeared in good spirits as she set out to show off her jumping and dressage talents.

Known as much for her sporting prowess as her sartorial choices, Zara attends equestrian events all over the world, both as a formidable athlete when she competes and as a trendsetting fashionista when she is a spectator.

Her illustrious career includes gold at the 2005 European Eventing Championships and silver at the 2006 World Equestrian Games.

Zara has also previously been crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year and has been nicknamed the Royal Olympian.

Last month, Zara showed off her chic fashion sense when she opted for an all-burgundy ensemble as she enjoyed a solo day out on Cheltenham's Festival Trials Day.

The king's niece was left without her husband Mike and their three children in the Gloucestershire city, known for its racecourse of the same name.

She dressed warmly in a long, dark red coat, which she combined with matching leather-look boots and gloves.

She completed her ensemble with a black turtleneck and a chic navy blue fedora, accented with a decorative sash.

Cheltenham's Festival Trials Day is described as 'the last chance to see the sport's leading lights go to battle on the hallowed grounds of Cheltenham Racecourse before the Cheltenham Festival', which takes place in March.

The website says: 'With an eight-race card, with each race being a trial for a race at the Cheltenham Festival, it doesn't get much more exciting unless it's the festival itself.

'The excitement isn't limited to the track, with fantastic entertainment throughout the day and The Wickermen performing live music after the race, it's a seamless build-up to the Cheltenham Festival.'

Meanwhile, her husband Mike Tindall, 45, with whom she shared three children, revealed earlier this month that one of the few times he has ever cried was over the loss of one of his beloved dogs.

Speaking to comedians Jack Dee and Seann Walsh on the Oh My Dog podcast, the former rugby star spoke about the three dogs he shares with his wife.

Mike, who lives with Zara on Princess Anne's estate in Gatcombe Park, currently has three dogs: black Labradors Storm and Pepper, who are mother and daughter, and Blink the Brindle Boxer, named after 'power women' from Marvel Comics.

He told the presenters: The only times I've ever cried, well, really ever cried, [was] when I had a bull mastiff named Misty who died, and then Cawley, who was also Storm's mother when she died.”

The ex-England captain admitted he is concerned about 15-year-old Storm, Pepper's mother, because she is less active.

“It's hard with her at the moment because she's, you know, unfortunately, very old now and it comes at times like that.

“When you ask the question, does she enjoy what she does, you know?”

He went on to explain that Storm, who was given to Zara as a puppy by her friend, has lost interest in outdoor walks and now prefers to stay in her bed.

'She's just not interested. You shake a belt at her, you go out, you go out. You have to drag her out a bit.

'She says, “I don't want to go.” And I'm like, “Well, yeah, you gotta go a little bit too.”

“You take her outside, you try to get her to do it, and then you let her go to do her business, and then she just runs away.

“She knows exactly where the door is and she knows she can open the door, so she just pushes him straight back onto the bed.

'Maybe she'll take a look in the kitchen along the way.

'So yes, it really is a terrible situation. I think this is the worst place for an owner to be in that situation.”

The father of three then compared 15-year-old Storm to an older person, who doesn't like loud noises and prefers a quiet environment.

'She's like an old person. She hates noise.

“So when she's as happy as Larry, and then you go downstairs for breakfast and she says, 'Please open a door, I'm going into another room because the noise is putting my head in.'

THE inaugural Riyadh season of World Masters of Snooker will be the first ever WST event to take place in Saudi Arabia.

A brand new tournament will feature eight of the world's best players and two wildcards.

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The top eight stars in the official world rankings at the end of the Players Championship (February 19-25) automatically qualify to participate.

In addition to the best eight stars, two more wild cards will be added to complete the field of ten players.

Luca Brecel will be the top seed after winning the World Snooker Championship last year.

World No. 1 Ronnie O'Sullivan has already confirmed he will take part in the Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker.

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When is the Riyadh World Masters of Snooker season?

• The Riyadh World Masters of Snooker season starts on Monday, March 4.
• The tournament ends on Wednesday, March 6.

What are the Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker Rules?

Each game is played according to the rules and regulations of World Snooker.

However, there will be a special new 23rd ball in use, known as the Riyadh Season ball.

The new ball is worth 20 points and cannot be pocketed until all other balls have been successfully removed from the table if a player is on course to make a maximum break to make 167.

What has been said?

HE Advisor Turki Alalshikh said: “We are thrilled to be hosting our first ever professional snooker tournament in the Kingdom.

“Snooker is watched and played by millions of people around the world and we look forward to welcoming some of the greatest players and snooker fans to our country and showing them what the Saudi Arabia and Riyadh season has to offer.”

Matchroom COO Steve Dawson said: “It is a great privilege for the World Snooker Tour to partner with HE Advisor Turki Alalshikh to host an event in Saudi Arabia for the first time.

“This is a huge breakthrough for snooker in new territory, and we see this as the start of a new adventure for our sport in the region.

“We look forward to being part of the Riyadh season at this fantastic new event with the best players in the world.

“We will be honored to bring our sport to the great city of Riyadh, and for local fans this will be their first chance to see some of snooker's greatest heroes of all time.”

THE start of the 2024 Players Championship season is just around the corner.

30 tournaments will be played throughout the calendar year, with the new campaign kicking off in Wigan.

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There will be 128 players in action at each of the 30 Players Championship tournaments.

Normally the 128 PDC Tour Card holders will fill the spots, but should they withdraw or not register, the highest ranked players on the Challenge Tour Order of Merit will be invited to fill the vacant spots.

At the end of the 30 tournaments, the top 64 stars in the Players Championship Order of Merit will be invited to compete in the finals.

Teen sensation Luke Littler is in action this year after turning PDC professional in January.

The 17-year-old will be in action alongside his Premier League Darts colleagues Michael van Gerwen, Michael Smith, Nathan Aspinall, Luke Humphries, Rob Cross, Peter Wright and Gerwyn Price.

What is the prize money for the 2024 Players Championship tournaments?

Here's an overview of the prize money to be won at each tournament this season:

• Winner – £15,000
• Second place – £10,000
• Semi finals – £5,000
• Quarter final – £3,500
• Last-16 – £2,500
• Last-32 – £1,500
• Last-64 – £1,000
• Total – £125,000
• Total (x30) – £3,750,000

Players Championship 2024 tournament schedule

Here are 30 dates and locations for this year's Players Championship tournaments:

12th of February: Players Championship 1 (Wigan)

February 13: Players Championship 2 (Wigan)

February 19: Players Championship 3 (Leicester)

February 20: Players Championship 4 (Leicester)

18th of March: Players Championship 5 (Hildesheim).

March 19: Players Championship 6 (Hildesheim).

April 8: Players Championship 7 (Leicester)

April 9: Players Championship 8 (Leicester)

6 May: Players Championship 9 (Hildesheim).

May 7: Players Championship 10 (Hildesheim)

June 11: Players Championship 11 (Hildesheim)

12 June: Players Championship 12 (Hildesheim)

July 2nd: Players Championship 13 (Milton Keynes)

3 July: Players Championship 14 (Milton Keynes)

July 15: Players Championship 15 (Milton Keynes)

16th of July: Players Championship 16 (Milton Keynes)

July 17: Players Championship 17 (Milton Keynes)

August 21: Players Championship 18 (Milton Keynes)

August 22: Players Championship 19 (Milton Keynes)

September the 17th: Players Championship 20 (Wigan)

September 18th: Players Championship 21 (Wigan)

September 24: Players Championship 22 (Leicester)

25th of September: Players Championship 23 (Leicester)

October 1: Players Championship 24 (Wigan)

October 2nd: Players Championship 25 (Wigan)

October 3: Players Championship 26 (Wigan)

October 15: Players Championship 27 (Wigan)

October 16: Players Championship 28 (Wigan)

30 October: Players Championship 29 (Leicester)

October 31st: Players Championship 30 (Leicester)

When is the Players Championship final?

• The Players Championship Finals will take place from November 22 to 24, 2024.
• Bultlin's Minehead Resort will host.